Locking mechanism



April 24, 1934.

G. D. HILL LOCKING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 14', 1932 INVENTOR LZZ 627"?" L'ZJZF BY zis ATTO El April 24, 1934. a. D. HILL LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z ,5 ?IZ;:9.4

Az's ATTORNEY G. D. HILL April 24, 1934.

1k. LOCKING MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR fierrififlflizb 5 ATTO EY April 24, 1934. H 1,956,069

LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 x5 '7 T'ggfl Patented Apr. 24, 1934 LO CKING MECHANISM Gerrit D. Hill, Rochester, N.

Sargent & Greenleaf,

Y., assignor to Ina, Rochester, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application September I l, 1932, Serial No. 633,089

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to locking mechanism and has for its object to provide an improved combination lock designed to facilitate quick operation of the combination whereby to reduce the time required to open the safe, locker, or other container to which the lock may be applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combination lock embodying different individual control mechanisms having common operating means by which either mechanism can be operated to effect release of a securing or protecting device associated with said mechanisms.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved locking means including individual and master combination lock mechanisms arranged for operation to release or control a bolt or other securing means and including means by which a change in one or both of the combinations may be readily effected.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combination lock having individual sets of tumblers mounted for operation within a barrel or the like and having a common dial and spindle for operating the same, one set of turnblers in each of a number of locks being brought to bolt releasing position by the successful operation of what may be termed a master combination, while the remaining tumbler sets for the different locks are each controlled by a different individual combination.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide an improved master combination lock having different sets of tumblersand separate fence elements individual thereto arranged each for movement to release position by the other upon successful operation of their corresponding combinations. g

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined individual and master combination lock wh reby various similarly constructed locks may each be set up for operation by a different individual combination and also successfully operated by a master combination common to all of the locks.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specifications.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation illustrating one arrangement in which the present combination lock serves as protecting means for the bolt-work or other securing means of a closure;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the lock taken on line 22 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the relation of the tumblers of the master combination to the bolt before the tumblers are moved to release position with respect to the fence corresponding thereto for guarding the bolt;

Fig. l is a similar view in which the fence is moved into the notches of the master set of tumblers and the bolt moved to release or unlocking position;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation corresponding generally to Fig. 3, with the tumblers of the individual combination in nonrelease position and with the bolt in securing position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the notches of the individual set of tumblers lined up to permit the fence on the bolt to move therein;

Fig. 7 is a similar View showing the bolt moved to full release or unlocked position;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the position of the parts just prior, to the scrambling of 3 the individual set of tumblers which is effected automatically upon return of the bolt when the latter is approaching locking position;

9 is a vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 1c is a horizontal section taken. on line lG-lO of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a rear end elevation of the tumbler carrying barrel or supporting block;

12 is a side elevation of the same as viewed from the right of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a side view of the barrel viewed from the upper side of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a detail view of the fence element corresponding to the master set of tumblers as viewed from the rear of the same;

Fig. 15 is an end elevation of the same as viewed from the right of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view of the lock casing viewed from the rear thereof, showing the position of the change key slot therein;

Fig. l? is a plan view of the driving unit for the master and individual sets of tumblers which is keyed to the spindle, as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 18 is a detail view of one of the master tumblers with which is connected a fiy'movable relative to the tumbler to permit the master combination to be changed when desired;

Fig. 19 is a View illustrating the tumblers and 110 block as spacing members therefor corresponding to the master combination;

Fig. 20 is a similar view illustrating the tumblers and spacing members corresponding to the individual combination;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating the position of the change key with respect to one of the tumblers corresponding to the individual combination;

Fig. 22 is a similar view showing the position of the change key corresponding to the master set of tumblers;

Fig. 23 is a detail View of the change key shown in section in Fig. 21, and

Fig. 24 is a detail View of the change key shown in section in Fig. 22 and corresponding to the master combination.

The present invention embodies locking mechanisms for guarding the doors or closures of various receptacles, compartments, and the like, and particularly those of the type which are generally grouped together for use by different individuals and over which an attendant is usually placed in charge, as for example in the case of lockers to be used by different persons from time to time. In cases of this kind, it is desirable to provide combination locks for securing the doors of the lockers which can be opened by those to Whom the lockers are assigned and with whom the individual combinations are entrusted. It is also advantageous to have the looks so designed that they may be opened by a master combination entrusted only to an attendant or someone having authority to open the lockers, who can thus quickly open any one of the lockers, by operation of a single or master combination.

It is also advantageous to have the looks so constructed that the individual combinations can be operated in a minimum amount of time and for this reason the present locks have been designed to permit the setting up operations of the individual combinations each to be effected by a partial revolution of the dial or by a direct movement from one number to another.

Another improved feature lies in the means for automatically scrambling the tumblers of the different individual combinations, which constitutes a safety feature and positively insures return of the tumblers to locking position whereby to avoid relying on the memory of the operator to effect manual scrambling of the tumblers at the time of closing the door of the locker or other container.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents a door or closure of a locker, safe, or other container, or compartment, a portion of the wall of which is shown at 11 in Fig. 1. In this View is shown, by dotted lines, a portion of the bolt-work or other securing or protecting means for the closure comprising the parts 12 and 13, the latter being in the form of a lever and having an offset portion 14 normally guarded by the bolt 15 of the present combination look, a handle 16 being provided on the outer face of the closure for moving the lever to release position when the combination lock has been successfully operated.

The casing in which the parts of the lock are disposed is indicated at 1'7, the end walls of the casing having flanged portions 18 hearing against the inner face of the closure and having holes 19 for receiving the securing bolts 20 as best shown in Fig. 9. The bolts also serve to connect the escutcheon plate 21 with the closure so that it cannot be removed from the exterior thereof. To this end the heads of the bolts are positioned in rear of the escutcheon plate and are anchored within annular lugs or flange-like portions 22 on the plate, which at the time of inserting the heads of the bolts therein are at right angles to the plate but which are subsequently spun downwardly upon the heads of the bolts by the use of a suitable tool. Lugs 23 are also provided on the plate which take into the slots of the bolt heads to hold the bolts against turning when the nuts are screwed into position thereon.

Mounted within the casing is a supporting block 24 for the tumblers and other locking parts, the block being shown independent of said parts in Figs. 11, 12, and 13. The block is recessed at 25 to form a barrel or cylinder, the walls of which form bearings or seats for the peripheral portions of the tumblers and serve to rotatably support the tumblers.

The tumblers corresponding to the master combination and the spacing elements for said tumblers are shown in Fig. 19, while the tumblers corresponding to the individual combination and their spacing elements are shown in Fig. 20. These individual sets of tumblers and their spacing elements are shown in proper assembled relation in Fig. 2, the master set of tumblers being at the front of the lock and the set corresponding to the individual combination being in rear thereof.

The elements of the master combination in the order in which they are placed upon the spindle from front to rear are indicated by the reference characters 26 to 30 inclusive and those of the individual combinations are correspondingly indicated by the reference characters 31 to 36 inclusive, these being also placed in the order named from front to rear.

It will thus be seen from Fig. 19 that there are three tumblers in the master combination indicated by the reference characters 26, 28, and 30. A like number is also provided for the individual combination and these are indicated by the reference characters 32, 34, and 35 in Fig. 20. Each of the tumblers of the two sets is rotatably supported within the barrel through contact of its peripheral portion with the wall 25 of the barrel, except the rearmost tumbler 36 which is keyed upon the spindle for operation thereby as described hereinafter.

The spindle preferably comprises detachable sections, the inner section 37 being an extension of the dial knob 38 and loosely fitting within the tubular section 39 which is reduced at 40 to constitute a bearing for rotatably receiving the driving element 41 for the rearmost tumbler 36 of the individual set of tumblers shown in Fig. 20. Detachment of the dial and the spindle portion 37 thereon is provided for by slotting said spindle portion at 42 and extending within the slot a driving pin 43 carried by the tubular section 39 as shown in Fig. 2. Thus upon removal of the escutcheon plate 21 the dial and the portion of the spindle thereon can be readily withdrawn. The tubular section 39 of the spindle is reduced at its rear end and is extended within the rear wall of the casing 17 which forms a bearing for the tubular section. The front end of the section is rotatably supported in an annular recess 44 formed in the front wall of the bearing block 24..

The driving element 41 on which the rear tumbler 36 is fixed is provided with teeth 45 engaging similar teeth 46 on the tubular section 39 whereby the latter is made to rotate said driving element upon rotation of the dial, the parts being coupled in this manner to permit the individual combination to be changed from time to time as desired, as more fully described hereinafter. It will be understood, however, that the tumbler driving element .1 is movable longitudinally of the tubular section and is normally held in coupled relation with respect to the driving element by means of a spring l7 interposed between the driving element and a washer 48 fixed on the rear end or" the part 39, as shown in Fig. 2.

The tumblers 32 and 3a of the rear or individual set are driven by a lug 49 on the driving element 41, the lug moving into engagement with a tongue 32b on the tumbler 32 during rotation of the driving element andalso into engagement with one or the other of the tongues 34b of the tumbler 34 in the setting up operations of the individual combinations. By means of this arrangement the tumblers 32 and 34 can be moved to bring their notches into alinement by a partial revolution of the dial for each of the different setting up operations required to aline the notches of said tumblers. This avoids having to effect several revolutions of the dial for each number of the combination as has heretofore been necessary. Thus a quick acting arrangement is provided whereby the individual combination can be operated in a minimum amount of time. To complete the setting up operations for the individual combinations is is, of course, necessary to aline the notch 36a of the tumbler 36 with the notches 32a and 34a of the tumblers 32 and 34 respectively, it being understood that the notch or" the tumbler 36 will be moved into alinement with the notches of the tumblers 32 and 34 subsequent to alinement of the latter.

In the case of the tumblers corresponding to the master combination the front or driving tumbler 26 is cut away at 260 to receive a lug 50 on the tubular section 39 of the spindle which is driven by the extension 37 on the dial. The tumbler 26 has a driving pin 26?) extending on one side thereof which engages one end of a pin 2822 on the next succeeding tumbler 28 for driving the latter. The pin 281) at the rear side of the tumbler 28 engages a lug 305 on a ily 300 rotatably mounted between the tumbler 30 and a retaining element 30; for the fly arranged to 1'0- tatably support the latter. The fly constitutes means by which the master combination may be changed from time to time. The part 362) of the fly is formed of spring material and has an offset portion 30d which takes into one or another of the openings or depressions 30c formed in the tumbler, the fly being held in any position to which it is adjusted by the frictional resistance between the tumbler and the offset portion 30d of the fly. The method of effecting relative adjustment between the fiy and the tumbler to change the master combination will be described hereinafter.

The tumblers 25 and 28 of the master combination are separated by the spacing element 2'] which is held against rotation within the barrel by a tongue 27a extending from said element within a slot 51 formed in the wall of the block 24 at one side of the tumbler chamber. The tumblers 28 and 30 are separated by the spacing element 29 which is held against rotation by a tongue 29a thereon which also talres into the slot 51 of the barrel block.

The rear tumbler 30 of the set corresponding to the master combination is separated from the front tumbler 32 of the set corresponding to the individual combination by the spacing element 31 having a tongue 31a extended Within the slot 51 of the barrel block to hold said spacing element against rotation within the barrel. Likewise a similar spacing element 33 is interposed between the tumblers 32 and 34 and has a tongue 33a extended within the slot 51 to hold the spacing element against rotation.

The tumblers well as the spacing elements therebetween are held against axial displacement in a rearward direction by the retaining element 35, the peripheral portion of which takes into an annular groove 52 formed in the wah 25 of the barrel, said element being sprung into position after the tumblers have been properly assembled within the barrel. The retaining element 35 is held against rotation by a. tongue 35a thereon which extends into the slot 51 of the barrel block 24.

The tumblers 32 and 34 are provided with fence receiving notches 32a and 34a, respectively, and the tumbler 36 fixed on. the spindle also has a fence rece' notch 36o. as shown in Fig. 20.

The driving tumbler 26 corresponding to the master combination is provided with a fence receiving notch 26a and also with a cam 26d for returning the fence to normal position upon destroying the master combination. The notches in the remaining tumblers 28 and 30 are indicated at 28a and 30a respectively. and when alined with the notch 26a of the tumbler 25 permit the fence element 53 on the slide 54 to move into said notches. The slide is operated in the present instance by the fence 55 corresponding to the individual of tumblers through engagement of said fence with a cam 55 on an upstanding portion 57 of the slide. The fence 55 is pivotally connected at 58 to the bolt 15 and the bolt is pivot-ally connected to a stud or pin. 59 secured in an opening 59a in the front wall of the barrel block 24, Fig. 11.

Upon successfully operating the master combination the operator by turning the handle 16 on the outside of the door 10 will move the lever 13 to swing the bolt 15 from the locking position shown in Fig. 3 to the release position shown in Fig. 4. In this operation the free end of the fence 55 will contact with the cam 56 of the slide 54 to shift the latter to the position shown in Fig. l in which it is moved to permit the fence to move past the 'cam to allow t 3 bolt to be moved to the full release position. The belt is limited in its movement to this position by the contaoting of the portion 50 of the bolt with an abutment 51 on the block 24. The bolt is returned from the position shown in Fig. 4 to normal position by a spring 62, one end which is connected with the bolt adjacent the pivot point thereof and the other of which bears against the inner face of one of the walls of the casing.

When closing the door of the safe and turning the dial to destroy the combination the cam 26d on the tumbler 25 will return the slide 54 to the normal position shown at the same time moving the fence 53 out of the notches of the set of tumblers corresponding to master combina tion. When the slide is thus returned to normal position it serves to maintain the bolt in locked position by reason of the fact that in this position the fence 55 on the bolt is prevented from moving to the left of Fig. 3 by the cam 56 on the slide, the latter being held against movement through contact of the fence 53 with the peripheral portions of the tumblers corresponding to the master combination.

The slide is disposed in a slot 54a formed in the block 24 adjacent the front wall thereof as best shown in Fig. 12 and is held in position by the oppositely disposed guides 63 and 64 formed on the front wall of the block 24 as shown in Fig. 11. The slide is provided with an opening 545 through which extends the front end of the tubular section 39 of the spindle as shown in Fig. 2. The slide is checked in its return movement to normal position through engagement of the cam 56 thereon with an abutment 65 on the barrel block 24.

In the operation of the individual combination the notches of the tumblers 32, 34, and 36 are brought into registry by turning the dial to successively aline the numbers of the combination with the index mark 66 on the escutcheon plate. Assuming that the combination is 192938, then the dial will be turned to the left and brought to rest when the first number 19 is opposite the index. The dial is then rotated to the right for a partial revolution until the second number 29 is opposite the index, after which the dial is rotated to the left a partial revolution to move the third number 38 into registry with the index, thus completing operation of the combination at which time the notches of the tumblers 32, 34, and 36 are in registry as shown in 6. If now the handle 16 on the door is turned to the right, the bolt will be swung upon its pivot 59 and as this is done the cam 56 through contact with the extreme end portion 55a, of the fence 55 will cause said fence portion to move into the notches of the tumblers as shown in Fig. 8 thus permitting the fence to clear the cam so that upon continued movement of the handle by the operator the bolt will be shifted to the position shown in Fig. 7. During this time movement of the bolt will move the fence element and since the portion 55a of said element will remain within the notches of the tumblers the latter will also be moved by rotation to the position shown in Fig. 7 in which the bolt is at full release position. However, as soon as the operator releases the handle 16, the spring 62 will quickly swing the bolt back to locking position as shown in Fig. 5. It is this movement of the bolt and the fence 55 thereon that is effective to cause automatic scrambling of the tumblers of the individual combination as described hereinafter.

During movement of the bolt to and from release position the free end of the pivoted fence 55 is supported and guided by a pin 67 extending therefrom which travels on the surface 68 of the block 24. The pin also travels in engagement with another surface 69 at a right angle to the surface 68, the surface 69 merging into a cam surface 69a which engages the free end of the pin to move the fence 55 out of the notches of the turnblers upon continued movement of the bolt to locking position from the position shown in Fig. 8.

As a means for effecting automatic scrambling of the tumblers corresponding to the individual combination the two tumblers 32 and 34 of this set are provided with notches '70 and 71 respectively, for receiving the V-shaped end '72 of a scrambling lever or member '73 which is preferably in the f orrn. of a spring having its outer end anchored in a slot 73a, formed in the block 24, Fig. 11.

In Fig. 6 the notches of the tumblers are shown in alinement with the fence 55 with the latter ready to enter therein, in which position the V- shaped notches for receiving the scrambling element are slightly in advance of the latter. As

soon as the fence moves into the tumbler notches with the bolt moving to release position the V- shaped notches become alined with the portion 72 of the scrambling element which then moves into the notches. However as the tumblers continue to rotate under the action of the swinging bolt, the portion 72 of the scrambling element will leave the J-shaped notches and assume the position shown in Fig. 7. Thereafter as the tumblers begin to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in ig. 7, under the return movement of the bolt to locking position, the portion 72 of the scrambling element will again enter the V-shaped notches, one slightly in advance of another as shown in Fig. 8 in which the bolt is closely approaching locking position. As the bolt continues to move toward locking position the part 72 will center itse within the V-shaped notches of the tumblers, thus effecting a shifting of one relative to another and changing the relative positions of the fence receiving notches in the tumblers, which in effect serves to scramble the tumblers by destroying the alinement of the notches 32a and 34a therein. This operation will be effective regardless of whether or not the handle 16 is released slowly or quickly. Furthermore since the scrambling member does not operate upon the rearmost tumbler 36 the fence receiving notch in the latter, through movement of the portion 55a, of the fence 55 by the bolt will be carried out of registry with the fence receiving notches of the remaining tumblers, thus insuring shifting of the notches of certain tumblers one relative to another so that they no longer remain in true alinement.

Regardless of the operation described above, if the handle 16 is released quickly, the momentum of the dial and the rear tumbler 36 coupled therewith will, under the rapid movement of the spring actuated bolt and fence 55, be sufiicient to cause the notch in the tumbler 36 to move out of registry with the portion 55a of the fence when the bolt is approaching locking position, at which time said portion is moved out of the notches of the tumblers by the cam 69a. During this operation the notch in the tumbler 36 will move ahead of the fence receiving notches in the tumblers 32 and 34 which are then being held by the scrambling element 72 in the V-shaped notches of said tumblers.

In Fig. 16 the rear portion of the lock casing is shown provided with a key slot 74 for the insertion into the casing of either one of the change keys "(5 and 76 shown in Figs. 23 and 24, the key 5 corresponding to the individual set of turnblers and the key 76 to the master set of tumblers.

Formed in the wall of the barrel block 24 in registry with the key slot is a key receiving recess '77 permitting the key to be given a quarter of a turn after inserting it through the slot '74 of the casing. The turning of the key '75 within the slot is limited by the engagement of the portion '78 of the key with an abutment 79 on the wall of the block 24, at which time the key will occupy the position shown in Fig. 21. In this position the portion 80 of the key will extend within the notch of the individual tumbler 36 which is brought to the proper position before inserting the key within the slot. In this operation the dial is turned to aline the last number of the old combination with the index mark 81 on the escutcheon plate, at which time the individual change key 75 is inserted within the key slot and is then given a quarter of a turn to the position shown in Fig. 21. The key is held in this position to prevent its turning while at the same time the dial is turned slowly to the left which results in rotation of the portion 39 of the spindle while the portion 41 thereof is being held against turning by the key. In this turning movement the clicking of the teeth between the parts 39 and 41 will be audible, each click indicating an advance of one number over the previous number of the combination. In this way all numbers of the individual combination can be readily changed to the new numbers, and when the parts have been set for the numbers chosen the key is withdrawn from the slot.

In changing the master combination the key 76 is inserted within the casing through the slot "14 and is then given a quarter of a turn to brin it to the position shown in Fig. 22. Before doing this, however, the dial is turned to the right at least three revolutions, after which it is brought to rest when the first number of the old combination is in registry with the index mark 82 on the escutcheon plate. The key '76 at this time will have one of the portions 83 thereof in engagement with the abutment 79, in which position the key is held by the operator. One of the portions 85 of the key will also engage within the notch 30a of the tumbler 30 and through engagement with the tumbler, as shown in Fig. 22, the latter will be held against rotation by the key. The dial will then be turned slowly to the right and through engagement of the pin 281) on the tumbler 28 with the portion 30b of the fly, the latter will be rotated. By counting the clicks of the fiy when the part 30d thereof passes from one of the holes 30c to another, the operator will be able to readily effect the desired change in the master combination.

The periphery of the tumbler 36 has been notched as indicated at 361) for the purpose of confusing anyone trying to line up the notches of the individual set of tumblers without knowing the combination corresponding thereto, the tumbler 36 being of a slightly greater diameter than either of the tumblers 32 and 34. With this feature if the portion 55a of the bolt actuated fence 55 should be made to ride on the periphery of the tumbler 36 by the cam 56 under an attempt to move the bolt from looking to release position, then the operator might be able to determine by the sound or by the sense of touch, when the fence moved into registry with one of the notches 36?). However in such an attempt he would be unable to distinguish between the shallow notches 36b and the deeper fence-receiving notch 36a and would thus be prevented from accomplishing the object sought.

The barrel block has a cylindrical portion 85 at its front side which is fitted within an opening in the wall of the closure 16 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. t the opposite side of the block are provided posts 86 and 8'7, the ends of which are seated on the inner face of the rear wall of the casing 1'7 as illustrated in Fig. 10. Studs 88 and 89 are also carried by the block and are extended through the rear wall of the casing where they are provided with nuts 90 as shown in Figs. 9 and 16, whereby the barrel block is clamped in position within the casing.

It will be understood that the bolt-work, only a portion of which is shown, is so constructed that it will be automatically moved to locking position upon slamming the door, at which time the combination lock bolt 15, the lever 13, and handle 16, will be in the position shown in Fig. 1,

which is the position they normally occupy after the door has been unlocked and left open.

In the operation of the individual combination by the user of the locker, the dial is turned to the left to position the first number of the combination in registry with the index 66. It is then rotated to the right for a partial revolution to position the second number of the combination in registry with said index and it is thereafter turned to the left by a partial revolution to position the third number of the combination in registry with the index. This effects alinement of the notches of the individual set of tumblers, at which time the handle 16 can be moved to shift the bolt work and the combination lock bolt 15 to release position, the slide 54 at this time being held against movement by engagement of the fence 53 thereon with the peripheral portions of the master set of tumblers and the cam 56 on the slide serving to move the fence 55 into the notches of the individual set of tumblers.

In the operation of the master combination, the dial is operated in the usual manner to line up the notches of the master set of tumblers, after which the handle 16 is moved to the right to release the bolt-work at the same time moving the bolt 15 to the position shown in Fig. 4. During this time the fence 53 on the slide will enter the notches of the master set of tumblers through movement of the slide by the fence 55 whiich engages the cam 56 carried by the slide. Upon release of the handle 16 after either of the unlocking operations described above, the spring 62 will automatically return the bolt 15, the lever 13, handle 16, and part 12 to the position shown in Fig. 1.

While the tumblers 32 and 34 of the individual set have been shown and described as having notches '76 and 71 positioned one slightly in advance of another when the fence receiving notches are in registering relation in order to effect scrambling of said tumblers by relative movement of the same upon the centering oi the part '72 within the notches thereof when the bolt 15 is released at unlocking position, it will be understood that in the present arrangement this idea has been shown merely as one method by which automatic scrambling of several or all of the tumblers of a given set can be effected when desired.

Incidentally with the present arrangement automatic scrambling would be effected even if the notches and 71 were in perfect alinement at the time of alinement of the fence receiving notches of all the individual tumblers. This is true for the reason that after releasing the bolt 15 at the unlocking position shown in Fig. 7 and during its return to locking position by the spring means 62 it will move the tumblers 32, 34;, and 36 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in this figure. In this movement the end '72 of the spring '73 will drop into the notches '70 and 71 of the tumblers 32 and 34 to hold the latter against continued rotation while the tumbler 36 will continue to rotate under the momentum thereof as well as under the pull exerted thereon by the portion 550: of the fence 55 when moving out of the notch 36a as indicated in Fig. 8. Thus relative movement between the tumbler 36 and the remaining tumblers of the set will be effected whereby automatic scrambling will result.

I claim:

1. In a combination lock, 2. support, separate sets of notched tumblers on the support, a bolt on the support, a spindle associated with said sets of tumblers for operating the same, a pair of fence elements individual to said sets of tumblers one movable by the bolt and each mounted for cooperation with its corresponding set of tumblers to hold the bolt against release, each fence element being movable into the notches of the tumblers corresponding thereto when said notches are in alinement, one of the fence elements upon alinement of the notches of the tumblers corresponding thereto being movable into said notches by the other fence element upon movement of the bolt to release position, and means for moving the bolt to release position.

2. In a combination lock, a support, separate sets of notched. tumblers on the support, a bolt on the support, a spindle associated with said sets of tumblers for the operation of the same, and separate fence elements individual to said sets of tumblers mounted for cooperation one with another to hold the bolt against release upon destroying either combination, each fence element being freed for movement to bolt releasing position when the notches of the tumblers correspending thereto have been moved into alinement by the operation of the spindle, one of the fence elements being movable to release position by another through cooperation of the latter with its corresponding set of tumblers upon movement of the bolt to release position following successful operation of one of the combinations.

3. In a combination look, a support, a bolt mounted upon the support, individual control mechanisms for protecting the bolt each of the permutation type, a device associated with said mechanisms for operating each of the same, a member associated with the bolt arranged for cooperation with one of the mechanisms to release the bolt when the parts of said last mentioned mechanism are moved to a predetermined position by said device, and a second member cooperating with the other of said control mechanisms and movable to release the bolt when the parts of said mechanism are in a predetermined relationship, said second member being moved to release position by the other of said members upon movement of the bolt to release position.

l. In a combination lock, a support, a bolt movable on the support, separate sets of notched tumblers on the support, a spindle associated with said sets of tumblers for operation of the same, and separate fence elements individual to said sets of tumblers each mounted for cooperation with its corresponding set of tumblers to hold the bolt against release, said fence elements being movable to release position with respect to the bolt when the notches of their corresponding tumblers have been moved into alinement by the operation of the spindle, one of the fence elements having a part thereon for causing the other fence element to take into the alined notches of the tumblers with which it corresponds whereby to release the bolt and the fence element having said part being movable into the alined notches of its set of tumblers by movement of the other fence element upon movement of the bolt to release position.

5. In a combination lock, a support, a bolt mov able upon the support, separate sets of notched tumblers upon the support, a spindle associated with said sets of tumblers for operation of the same, and individual fence elements for said sets of tumblers one of which is connected with the bolt and the other of which upon successful operation of the tumblers corresponding thereto is arranged for movement into the notches thereof by the fence connected with the bolt upon movement of the latter to release position.

6. In a combination lock, a support, a bolt movable upon the support, separate sets of notched tumblers upon the support, a spindle associated with. said sets of tumblers for operation of the same, a fence individual to each of said sets of tumblers one of which is connected with the bolt and the other of which has a cam thereon, said last mentioned fence upon successful operation of the set of tumblers corresponding thereto being moved into the notches of said tumblers through engagement of said cam by the fence connected with the bolt upon movement of the bolt to release position, said cam upon successful operation of the set of tumblers corresponding to the fence connected with the bolt serving to move said fence into the notches of its corresponding tumblers upon movement of the bolt to release position.

7. Lock mechanism, comprising supporting means, protecting means associated with the supporting means, individual control mechanisms for guarding the protecting means each being of the permutation type arranged to be separately operated and each including a fence element for holding the protecting means against release, on of the fence elements remaining at rest during successful operation of the individual control mechanism corresponding to the other fence element and serving to direct said other fence element to release position with respect to the protecting means during successful operation of the last mentioned control mechanisms, and common operating means for said individual control mechanisms.

8. A combination lock comprising a support, a bolt associated with the support, individual permutation mechanisms on the support for controlling the operation of the bolt corresponding to different combinations, said permutation mechanisms control thereto, one of the control parts being connected with the bolt for movement thereby when moving the bolt to unlocked position, and another control part normally holding the last mentioned control part in check to guard the bolt and being moved upon successful operation of the combination corresponding thereto to release position with respect to the bolt by the control part connected therewith when the bolt is moved from looking position, and an operating spindle for said mechanisrns common thereto. 7

9. A combination lock, comprising a support, a bolt associated with the support, two sets of notched tumblers on the support corresponding to different combinations and each including a fence element, one of the fence elements being connected with and adapted to be moved by the bolt, and a tumbler actuating device operable to condition each set of tumblers for cooperation with its corresponding fence element, the fence element connected with the bolt being moved into the notches of its set of tumblers by the other fence element upon moving the bolt from looking position, said last mentioned fence element upon successful operation of its set of tumblers being moved into the notches thereof by the fence element connected with the bolt upon movement of the latter from looking position.

GERRIT D. HILL. 

